Indigenous artists awarded

Winners of one of the richest indigenous arts prizes in Australia announced

Exhibition includes works by six WA artists and eight national artists

Visitors can vote for their favourite in the People's Choice Award

Free artist talks on Saturday, July 4, 10.30am-3.30pm

Indigenous artists Megan Cope (Melbourne) and Eunice Yunurupa Porter (Warakurna, Goldfields-Esperance region) have taken out top honours at the Western Australian Indigenous Art Awards.

Megan won the overall prize of $50,000 for her video titled, The Blaktism. Eunice will receive $10,000 for her body of work including Mission times truck as the winner of the WA Artist Award.

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day congratulated Megan and Eunice and all the artists who participated in the program.

"The awards and exhibition recognise and celebrate the significance of indigenous art and what it brings to our culture," Mr Day said.

"This year 118 nominations were received with 14 finalists ultimately chosen to participate. This is testament to both the ongoing commitment made by indigenous artists to their practices and to the strength and vitality of indigenous art in Australia.

"In their own right, each work tells a very unique and powerful story. Together, the finalists create a very insightful, vibrant and original exhibition and I encourage everyone to take the time to visit the Art Gallery of WA to see it."

Feedback from the panel of national judges claimed Megan's work was sophisticated and complex, and highlighted social and political themes in a pop culture narrative. Likewise, the judges thought Eunice's work was a unique and contemporary way of documenting her community's history.

The Minister said the Western Australian award was hotly contested this year with six of the 14 finalists from the State - representing some of the most revered local artists practising today.

A $5,000 People's Choice Award will also be awarded to the most popular artist, as voted by exhibition visitors.